32 frame questions ** HELP **

hb32

hb32

Well-known member
I am in the process of buying a 32 pickup but have concerns about the title.
Title does not have a usual "B" number on it nor does the frame in the usual 3 places.
There is a number stamped in the drivers rail beside the firewall which is not very readable and numbers stamped on top of and on the rear face of the rear crossmember. These numbers, without the "B" and stars, equate to a 34 VIN.
To add more confusion, the frame does not have the reveal on the side of the rails. I read the thread on the no reveal as well as the authors reply from the Ford archives.
Frame has all the tell tale signs of a 32 and is 106" wheel base with no signs of being shortened. 3 cross members look identical to 32 parts.
Cab and all associated sheet metal are 32.
Has a "B" motor with a coresponding s/n equating to a build of May 32 on the bell housing.
Title VIN has partial #`s of a s/n off the engine block starting with "SP" which I have had no luck deciphering.
Not sure where else to go with this and don`t want to get stuck with a lawn ornament.
 
Capn John said:
This may help:
http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/ABenginenumbers.htm

see the Canadian section

can you have the B.C. DMV "correct" the serial number on the title???
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Thanks Capn and found that on my research as well.
Truck has a US title that it was brought into Canada on so suspect neither side of the border nor the company that was used to export even looked at the truck let alone confirm the #`s.
I inported a vehicle several years ago with a similar situation except it had valid #`s on the door post and frame. I had no issue getting the registration ammended to reflect the proper VIN.
In this case, the #`s in the frame are not valid 1932 #`s in accordance with the link you have above and they fall within 1934 VIN`s.
For future resale, I want the title to reflect the right #`s.
 
Being a commercial vehicle, the engine number was only supposed to be stamped in one location only, not three like a passenger car frame. That it has only one is a plus, not a minus as that tends to support the idea that it is an original frame.
 
DavidG said:
Being a commercial vehicle, the engine number was only supposed to be stamped in one location only, not three like a passenger car frame. That it has only one is a plus, not a minus as that tends to support the idea that it is an original frame.
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Excuse my ignorance as I am learning as I go on this and not well versed on early original Ford`s.
So, the Model B pickup would be considered a commercial vehicle even though it shares the frame of a passenger car?
Still confused to the origin of the stamped #`s at the firewall location and on the rear crossmember. These #`s do not correlate with the 5,000,001 to 5,2xx,xxx that research has shown as VIN`s. I have also read that there is no definitive # of commercial vehicles listed.
If anyone else with a pickup could chime in?
 
The engine numbers equate to a May 1932 build it is just the frame numbers that do not correlate with that year.
No stars on either side and has a "B" 56XXX upside down 3 XX upside down 2.
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The only difference between a '32 passenger car chassis (frame and running gear) and that of a passenger car is the number of leaves in the rear spring (and how many places the engine number was to be stamped on the frame). Some of the other bolt-on items are different early in the model year as Ford had a tendency to use up its inventory of parts no longer used on passenger cars on the commercial chassis. A good example of that practice were manually-adjustable shock aborbers which were originally released for both Model B passenger cars and commercial vehicles, but were quickly replaced on the Model B passenger cars with the thermostatically-controlled variety used on V-8 passenger cars. Once the inventory on hand of those early shock absorbers were used up on commercial vehicles, the thermostatically-controlled shocks were used on all '32 passenger cars and commercial vehicles.
 
Ok, this all centres around the frame numbers.

Do they look like they were stamped at the factory 80 years ago? Do the numbers feature the unique Ford font?

Or do they look like they were stamped by an owner or some out of the way dmv office to enable a more recent registration?

If they were stamped by the factory it is worth pursuing getting those numbers onto the title. If stamped by A. N. other, then maybe some attempt to title it from the engine number and get that number officially placed onto the frame by whatever method your local DMV use.

I don't really know your best plan of action, the point I'm trying to make is whether the frame numbers that do exist ate genuine Ford or not.

Mart.
 
I have a '32 B Pickup, one serial number location. The serial number is located on left frame rail near the left leg of the fire wall mount. Serial number reads Star B 5xxxxx Star. I'm certain that the manufacture date of mine was May of 1932 as well. My rear spring has 12 leaves. Frame rails have the reveal as well. You should purchase The 1932 Ford Book Chronical and Restoration Guide 2 volumns. The book will tell you all there is to know about the '32.
 
Drew said:
I have a '32 B Pickup, one serial number location. The serial number is located on left frame rail near the left leg of the fire wall mount. Serial number reads Star B 5xxxxx Star. I'm certain that the manufacture date of mine was May of 1932 as well. My rear spring has 12 leaves. Frame rails have the reveal as well. You should purchase The 1932 Ford Book Chronical and Restoration Guide 2 volumns. The book will tell you all there is to know about the '32.
Click to expand...

Thanks Drew and Mart as this gives me something to go with.
 
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